The faces of potential

Last Friday we had a 'Users Meeting.' Once a month, Buddukiro brings the boys from the Masaka and Nyendo centers together to give them information and advice, and have them share about any issues they're having.

When my turn came to give them a little 'soundbite' of advice, I mainly stressed how much potential we see in each of them, and how important it is that they take advantage of, rather than waste, the opportunities Buddukiro presents them with.

Here's a photo of the group, including BCA staff. behind each set of eyes, there is a story- trauma and hardship, but also dreams and oodles of potential. For example, Ronald, in the middle with the red and blue striped shirt, is an orphan. He lives with an aunt who has taken in several other orphans from different members of her family, and they all live together in Nyendo. Though he has a place to stay, his aunt can't afford to pay school fees for all those kids. So, although extremely bright, he's been out of school since last May. We're hoping Buddukiro can sponsor him to go back when the new term begins in February, and in the meantime he's been joining Buddukiro's education sessions each day to try to keep his mind sharp. I killed me to hear from him during a recent group counseling session, when we asked why his week had been a good one. He said that it was a good week because he because his family held the last funeral rites of his mother over the weekend(one year after death), and he had gotten a lot to eat that day.

I know it's a little hard to see, but it would be awesome if you could take a little time to look at each face, and pray for each boy, that he will safely navigate this crucial time in his life, and become all that God created him to be...

Note on pics: I'm having the toughest time getting any photos to upload recently, hence the blank spaces in some of these entries. I'll keep trying though...